Brunei Darussalam, as a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO is committed in ensuring the safety and security of international air transport. In this regard, the ICAO's Council Aviation Recovery Taskforce or CART has issued the 4th edition of the COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery Guideline in October 2021. Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Yusof, Minister of Transport and Infocommunications' in a message in conjunction with International Civil Aviation Day 2021 said, the country also supports and adopts the recovery guidelines and implement the relevant modules with risk mitigation measures for airports, crew, aircraft and cargo as proposed.
The Minister of Transport and Infocomunications explained that Technology and innovation in the aviation industry are closely related, inline with the regulations and policies to improved sustainable air transport strategies for economic growth and diversification. It is among the objectives of the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications' strategic plan, MTIC 2025 that connects technology advancement with increased connectivity towards greater socio-economic opportunities, improved innovation and higher quality of life. Yang Berhormat added with the world economy affected by COVID-19, the air transport sector is also not exempted. In this regard the ICAO continues to support and assists its members in the preparation and carrying out safety and health protocol guidelines for airlines, airports and other aviation activities virtually.
At the regional level, under the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework ACRF implementation plan, the first guidelines for ASEAN-wide COVID-19 operations for the protection and safety of passengers and crew were approved in November 2020 during the 26th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting chaired by Brunei Darussalam. In efforts to rehabilitate the air transport sector, MTIC and the Department of Civil Aviation are among the ministry and Government Agency working together through the Cross -Border Taskforce in preparing policies and 2 guidelines as well as planning various strategies and initiatives on cross -border by air transport. In the civil aviation sector, an initial initiative is the implementation of Reciprocal Green Lane RGL between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Singapore which came into effect on the 1st of September 2020.
Yang Berhormat also stated that ICAO also encourages innovation and new technological capabilities to improve the performance of air navigation regulatory efficiency through the transition from Aeronautical Information Services AIS to Aeronautical Information Management AIM. In this regard, Brunei Darussalam through the Department of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications is no exception in carrying out the ICAO requirements for the transition of AIS to AIM. The transition project will begin in June 2022 and is scheduled for completion in March 2023. The information digitalization project aims to improve the country's' navigation system accuracy and efficiency. The International Civil Aviation Day for 2020 to 2023 carry's the theme Advancing Innovation for Global Aviation Development.
Source: Radio Television Brunei